Sleeper coach arrangement



July 23,` 1940. l

sVLEEER coAcH @RANGEMENT Filed Feb. s, l19a-a vz sheets-sheet i H. G. MccARRoLL 2,208,679

ATTORNEYS Jmyzs, 1940.

H. G. MGCARROLL SLEEPER COACH ARBANGMENT Filed Feb. 81 193s 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS July 23, 1940- H. GQMGCAR'ROLB 2,208,679 d SLEPER COACH ARRANGEMENT Filed Feb.- 8, '1938 3 lSheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS Patented .hay 2s, 1940 UNITED sTArEs l '2,208,679- f .swarm coach ARRANGEMENT Henry G. McCarroll, Detroit, Mich., assignor to The Dow Chemical Company, Midland, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application February s, 193s, serial N0. 189,390

' ,12 claims. (ci 10s-315) 'I'his invention relates to a sleeper coach design and has particularlyto do with buses, trains, or other vehicles which are adapted to be used both as day coaches and sleeping coaches.

In the conventional type of Pullman or sleeping car having upper and lower berths there are many-disadvantages and discomforts which must be endured by the passengers. 'I'hese cars must be made over from a day coach to sleeping car 3g, by the porter all akt one time, and as a rule, the upperberths are very undesirable since they can be reached only by the use of a ladder. In addition, the dressing facilities are inconvenient and there is no convenient storage space for il garments during the night` or for bags during the day.

. Some attempts have been made to correct these faults butthese attempts, though they have sometimes resulted in more convenience to the a9 passenger, have been unsuccessful since they i have resulted in less passenger space in the car as a whole, and in greater construction costs thereby keeping the more convenient facilities out of reach of the normal passengers ability l t0 pas'.

It is,'therefore.an object of thepresent invention to provide a sleeper coach which will hold a maximum number 'of passengers and yet which does away `with the inconveniences nor- 80 mally experienced by passengers in a sleeper coach. Y l

'Ihe present 'invention contemplates a centeraisled car provided with compartments on each .side thereof which, though they form upper and Il lower compartments, are equally accessible from the aisle. A further object of the' invention is to provide compartments so arranged that standv ing space is provided therein whether the compartments are 'arranged for day use or sleeping' use Ann additional feature of the invention consists. in the bed arrangement whereby ample storage space is provided for luggage where4 it will be out of sight and yet conveniently accessible either Certain constructions in accordance with the invention are illustrated by way of example, in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one side'of the sleeper coach showingthe upper and lower .come l partments arranged for.- dayuse and sleeping purposes.

Fig. 2.is a longitudinal section of a sleeper coach showing the arrangement of the berths.

Fig. 3 is a partial sectional plan-view of one lo side of the coach taken on lines 3 3 of-Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a partial section taken on the lines 4 4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a foreshortened sectional view taken on the lines 5 5 ofFig. 2.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 where. one side of the interior of the' sleeper coach is illustrated, vertical L-shaped upper and lower compartments are arranged longitudinally of the corridor or central aisle. In the particular modification ilgo lustrated, the lower compartments are'inan upright L-position. The upper vcompartments are in inverted and reversed l-.position. In either of these compartments, the vertical portions are of suiilcient height toprovide standing room. g5

Also the length of the horizontal portions to gether with the width of the vertical portion forms a space exactly long enough for a bed in sleeping position. It vwill be noted that the compartments are arranged so. that the hori- 30 zontal portion in each case is vertically adjacent the vertical portion of an adjacent compartment. Each compartment `is`provided with a b erth which, in the preferred arrangement, is divided in two sections. One section is permanently 35 located in the horizontal portion ofthe compart` ment. 'Ihe other section is hinged to the permanent section of the berth and may beswung in -a horizontal or vertieal'position. When in horizontal position the combined vbed of normal length.

portions form a 4o More speciiically with reference to Fig. l. 8' longitudinal supporting beam 6 supports a iloor 1 for a central corridor. A side panel 8 loins a roof panel Q and a floor panel I il, the latter 45 being located below the corridor level `and between the beam 6 and thegside panel. A horizontal panel I I positioned above the corridor floor level, provides a floor for the upper compartments and also servesas thetop of the horilo zontal portion of the lower compartment. while apanel I2 joins with panel." and `closes the horizontal portion of the lower lcompartmentsfrom the corridor. 'I'he top of the lower compartment is enclosed by a panel Il which also. i

` passenger seat.

ings to serve somewhat as a safety member., Each of the compartments is furnished with a v window I6 in the sidepanel 8.

The back of the lower compartment is formed by a vertical panel I1` which also forms the front of the horizontal leg'of the lower com- `partment. The front part of the vertical leg of the lower compartment is formed by a panel I8 which will be later referred to in greater detail. This panel I8 also provides a back for the lower vertical portion of the upper compartment.

Each compartment is provided with a standard These seats may be double or single, but in the present exempliflcation are shown as single seats. In the lower compartment a seat 20 is shown positioned against the back panel I1 and a seat'back -2I is pivotally mounted at 2Ia at the back of the' seat 20 so that'it may be folded down upon the seat 20.

In the upper compartment, a seat 22 is positioned at the back of the compartment against the panel I8 and each seat has a back 23. It will be seen from Fig. l that the width of this seat is about halfthat of the compartment so that considerable standing room is afforded in each compartment. Beside the seat in the upper compartment is a step 24 which serves two purposes. It may be used to aid a passenger in entering the upper berth, as will be later described.

is provided to'hold the panel \26 upright.

In addition, it provides, along with the seat 22, a recess in the lower portion of the back of the panel which is utilized in connection with thef storage of the lower berths.

Each of the compartments is provided with berths. These berths are preferably arranged as hereinafter described though any arrangement which fulfills the purpose will be in accordance with the invention. Referring, first, to the berths in the lower compartments, a berth section or panel 25 having a width which is substantially less than the width of the compartment, is -horizontally and permanently disposed in the horizontal leg of the compartment. 'I'his panel 25 abuts and is supported at the outside edge by the side panel 8. At the front edge it abuts the panel I'I and at its'free corner it is supported by a single legJMdFigs. 2 and 3).

Another berth panel-'251s hinged at 21 to the rear edge of the' panel 25 so that it may be vertically or horizontally disposed. On these panels 25 and- 28 is a bed 28 which folds in the middle when the panel 26is in vertical position. A latch 29 As previously mentioned, the back of the panel I8 is formed with a. recess which will receive thev top portion of the bed 28 and panel 26 when in vertical position so that the panel 28 will be flush with the panel I8 (see. Fig. 2). vertical position the panel 28 will form a forward wall of the vertical section of the lower compartment and will hide from view the bedding attached to berth sections 25 and 25.

In the upper compartments the berths are formed also of a movable and aV permanent section. The permanent section consists of the I3 a movable section 3Ii` is hinged as at 3I.

When in this a aaoaeve panel I3 which is the dividing panel between horizontal portion of the upper compartment. 'Ihe berth portion of this panel is of substantially less width than the compartment. At the forward edge of the upper permanent berth panel A latch 32 is provided to hold\the berth section 30 in vertical closed position. Suitable means are provided on the rear face of the dividing panel I'I to furnish support for the free edge of the berth section 30 when it is in horizontal position. A bed 33 is arranged on the berth sections I3 and 30 so that it will fold with the movable section 30.

It will thus be seen that I have arranged upper and lower compartments in which standing room is always/available regardless of whether or not the berths are in sleeping position. This has been accomplished with a compartment which is no'longer than the usual length of a berth. In addition the latches 29 and 32 are so arranged that they may be easily manipulated by the passenger so that he mayconvert the compartment into a sleeping compartment simply by lowering the berth sections 28 or 30 into horizontal position. In the lower compartments the seat back 2i, is to be .folded down (Fig. 2) before the section 26 is lowered. vIn the upper compartments the step 24 may be used to help the passenger into the berth though, since the berths are only waist-high, no difllculty will be experienced in gaining access thereto. It will be noticed that the conversion of the compartments may be accomplished without inconveniencing or disturbing the occupants of the other compartments. The beds will be made up by the porter in the morning so that they will be ready for occupancy `whenever the passenger desires.

Each compartment is arranged so that baggage may be stored in the horizontal leg of the L. In the upper compartment the baggage may be stored along side the berth on the panel I3. Here it is available day or night and need not be Amoved -when the compartment is converted'.

Similarly, in the lower compartment baggage may be stored on the floor I0 along side and/or under the berth section 25. With these facilities the seating compartments are free of encumbrances. Each compartment may be furnished with standard equipment in the way of lavatories, mirrors and toilets.

The nestling arrangement of the compartments in the embodiment shown in Figs. l and 2 consists in having the lower compartment vin an4 upright L position and the upper compartmentI in an inverted L position and nestled with the lower compartment. lOther arrangements of these compartments may be had without departing from the' applicant's invention. In other words, the upper compartments may be inverted Ls with the horizontal leg pointing to the front of the vehicle while the lower compartments are upright Ls having the vertical portion in each case vertically adjacent the horizontal portio of the upper compartments.

What I claim is: y

1. In a sleeper coach having a central corridor. a floor for said corridor, L-shaped upper and lower compartments in said coach arranged longitudinally on each side of said corridor and in nestled relationship, each of said compartments having a vertical portion and a horizontal portion and vertical doorways between the vertical portions and the corridor, floors in said lower compartments disposed at a level lower than the corridor floor, floors in said upper compartments disposed at a higher level than the corri-V fdor iioor, seats on the iloor's o! said compartments, and a bed longitudinally arranged in each of said compartments comprising'a permanently, positioned portion disposed in the horizontal por-v tion of each compartment,'and a movable por- I tion disposed for day use at right angles to said ilrst portion. to form a closing wall for said hori' zontal space and disposed, when converted for night use, in horizontal lalignment with said first portion and .extending acrosssaid vertical por tion of the compartment. 'Y 2. In a convertible sleeping vehicle; L-shaped upper and lower compartments arranged longitudinally of a corridor and in nestled relationship, each of said compartments having a vertical portionv anda horizontal portion, iloors in said lower compartments disposed at a level lower than the corridor iloorfloors inlsaid upper compartments disposed at a higher level than the 'corridor iioor, seats on the floors ci said com- .partments and a bed in each of said comparthorizontal portion` of each of a plurality vof compartments is adapted to lie vertically adjacent.

the' vertical portion oi.' an adjacent compari; ment, iloors in said compartments, a raised door in said corridor disposed at a level; between the floor levels of said compartments seats in said compartments, and a split bed in each of said compartments comprising a permanently positioned'portion disposed in the horizontal portion of each'compartment, and a movable portion disposed i'or day use substantially at right angles to said iirst portion, and disposed, when converted for night use, in horizontal lalignment with said iirst portion across the vertical portion of said compartments.'

4. In a sleeper coach'having a longitudinal corridor, a series of longitudinally spaced compartments arranged along sid corridor,' said compartments comprising lower L-shaped compartments and upper inverted L-shaped yco'mpartments nestled within .eachother whereby the horizontal portion'bf each of a plurality `of compartmentsis adapted to lie vertically 'adjacent' r -theV vertical portion ofan adjacent compartment,-

ilocrs in said compartments, aY raised iloor in... said corridor disposed at .a level' between the iloor levels of said compartments, yseats in said,` compartments, and a bedin each of said compartments adapted 'to be disposed longitudinally for night use across the entire horizontal length of said compartments. g

5. A car provided with a corridor, and having upper and lower .compartments arranged longitudinally of; and communicating with, said corridor, each of said compartments being .L-shapeda, the horizontal leg of neach L-shaped compartment being adapted to lie vertically adjacent .tially in vsaid horizontal legs and partially .in

the vertical portions o! said compartments, the

beds being arranged to extend substantially the full length of the compartments when in sleeping position.' l

6.. In a coach, permanent upper vand lower L- shaped, individual compartments arranged longitudinally on each side oi a central corridor, each o! said compartments having vertical doorways communicating with said corridor, the horizontal space of each of said compartments being arranged vertically adjacent the vertical spacev of an `adjacent compartment, seats in the vertical portion of the. compartments, and a bed in each oi' said compartments having a portion disposed in said horizontal space and having a portion adapted to lie inhoriaontal position toform a completed b'ed, said beds having a length'equal to that oiv the compartments and a width substantially less than that of the compartments,

whereby to provide standing room at all .times in thevvertical portion of said compartments.

7. In a convertible sleeping vehicle, Lr-shapedy upper and lower compartments 'arranged longitudinally of a corridor and having a horizontal.

length equal .to that of a normal berth; each of said compartments having a horizontal and vertical portion, and being dimensioned to per.

mit a nesting arrangement of adjacent`compartments, a seat in each pf said compartments,

and a bed' in each of said compartments inde.

pendent of said seats and adapted to be disposed longitudinally fornight use with a section in the horizontal and vertical portions of said compartments.

8. In a sleeping vehicle provided with a central corridor, a plurality of permanent individual upper and lower compartments arranged longitudinally of and communicating with said corridor, each of said compartments being L-shaped and having a horizontal length equal to that oi.' a normal berth, and a vertical length toprovide standing room for .a normal person,v a seat in each oi said compartments, and a bed' in each compartment to be formed independently of said seats, a portion of said bed being mobile to make available the vertical portions .of said compartments, other than the space occupied by the seats, for standing 4room during day use.

9. -In a sleeper'coach having a corridor, a i'loor for said corridor, L-shaped upper and lower com-` partments in said coach arranged longitudinally oisaid corridor and in nestled relationship, each y of said compartments having a vertical portion and a horizontal portion, Iioors in said -lower 'compartments disposed at a level lower than the corridor iloor, iloors in said upperfcompartments disposed at a higher level than the corridor iloor, seats on the fioorsiof said compartments and a bed longitudinally arranged in'each of said compartments comprising a permanently positioned portion disposed in the horizontal portionoi' each compartment, and a movable portion disposed for day use at right angles to said ilrst portion and disposed, when converted for night use, in horizontal alignment with said irst portion -thereby extending across said vertical portionof the compartment.

10. In al'convertible sleeping vehicle, L-shaped upper and lower compartments'arranged longitudinally of a corridor and having ahorizontal length equal to that of a normal berth,l each of vsaid compartments having a horizontal and v'ertical portion, and adapted to be nested, said lower compartments vbeingv upright ALs and said u lli less width than that of said upper compartments being inverted Ls, a seat in each oi said compartments. a bed in each o! said upper compartments comprising a permanent section disposed horizontally at all times along the bottom o! the horizontal portion of said compartments and a movable section adapted to extend across the vertical portion of said compartment, and a bed in each of said lower compartments comprising a permanent section disposed horizontally and substantially midway between the bottom and the top oi the horizontal portion oi' said lower compartments and a movable section adapted to extend across the vertical portion of said lower comparement, said beds in cach loi said compartments being of substantially compartments. and lying adjacent the lside thereof whereby to form an' easily accessible baggage space in said horizontal portions for day use and standing room in said vertical portions for day or night use.

1l. In a convertibleesleeping vehicle, L-shaped upper and lower compartments arranged longitudinally of a corridor and having a horizontal length equal to that oi' a normal berth, each ci said compartments having a yhorizontal and vertical portion, the horizontal portion of each compartment being disposed vertically adjacent the vertical portion of an adjacent compartment, said lower compartments being upright Ls and said a movable section adapted to extend in alignment with said permanent section and across the vertical portion of saidcompartment over said seat, a seat in each ot said lower compartments,a iolding back on said seat, and a bed in each of said lower compartments comprising a permanent section disposed substantially midway between the bottom and the top o! the horizontal portion of said lower compartments anda movable section adapted to extend across the vertical portion of said lower compartments over said last -n'amed seat with the back in folded position, said bed in each loi. said compartments having a width less than that oi' said compartments and lying adjacent a side oi said compartment whereby to form baggage space between said beds and the other side of said compartments.

12. In a sleeper coach having a longitudinal corridor, va series of longitudinally spaced compartments arranged along said corridor, said compartments comprising upper and lower L- shaped compartments positioned adjacently in nestled relation. and beds in each oi said compartments adapted to lie substantially the full length oi' the compartment when in sleeping position and comprising a portion permanently positioned in the horizontal portions of said compartments and a pivoted portion adapted to be, moved i'rom a substantially vertical storage posi tion` to a' horizontal` sleeping position in alignment withI said Permanently positioned portion.

HENRY G. MCCARROLL. 

